36 comments:

Dear Yoko - this is such a beautiful post showing Japan resembling fairyland - pink, soft, floaty and very inviting.Last evening I saw a BBC documentary showing Spring around the world, and loved the images I saw of the mountains in Japan clothed in pink blossom - what a lovely and magical time of the year it is.

I've never seen so many cherry trees/blossoms! What a gorgeous sight. I like all the flowering trees, but cherry blossoms have a special beauty the others can't quite match. Your kiddos seem to be having a lot of fun too out amidst the blossoms. Love that shot with the pagoda especially!

Dearest Yoko, I absolutely love your posts and photos, and I am always so happy to see your posts in my news feed. Your photos are just gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a great week!

I must compliment all your beautiful photographs. You have used a good camera to snap very good and sharp photos in a myriad of colours with excellent angles. I have studied some photography in United States and could confidently single out all the good photographs like yours. I enjoyed viewing them over several times as they give out very happy mood like a photo that says a thousand words......... In future I should visit Nara again, in Spring or Autumn seasons.

Thank you, stardust, for reminding me of how beautiful the world can be. I like seeing puddles on the lawn and the blossoms look like clumps of snow at times … warmer but as fleeting as the winter flakes. Wheee … the children swinging are pictures of happiness and spring!

Ha Yoko.So beautiful the pictures with the blossoms, it just looks like paintings, so beautiful !!The kids on the swing are so sweet to see ...........Wish you have a nice week with a sun.Greetings Christine.

Absolutely stunning! I woul love to come to Nara in April, this is not to be missed in life.Congratulations on a significant event in your family, Yoko. Let F enjoy her school!Have a warm sunny week end, Yoko.With best wishes,Irina

Hello Yoko! From the first photo instant, I felt to be in a journey... A Spring Journey, as a fairytale captured on film, with cherry blossoms all over, a delight for eyes and soul, as well. We do not have so many cherry blossoms to see around , but the joy is so big, when Springtime is coming. Your photos are gorgeous and I must thank you so, so much for this chance to see lots and lots of details, lovely pink blooms, reflections and thoughts shared. You are writing about various cultivars of cherry flowers and trees, and I'll try to find out more about their on the internet. For instance about Somei-yoshino, I have read that the "Varieties of Sakura Cherry blossoms, or “sakura” in Japanese, is a general name for the blossoms that belong to the prunus Sakura subgenus." The "King cherry is a Korean native cherry tree originated from Jeju Island. It is a distinct species from Japanese native Yoshino cherry. King cherry is a rare plant and listed as an endangered species." Many thanks for the inspiration and the gorgeous collection of pictures you have shared with us. Indeed, inspired title :in praise of Sakura". And great words: "for spreading beauty, elegance, grace, and courage."A very, very wonderful Springtime to you and whole family!

It looks like you, like me, are experiencing the up and down temperatures. Spring is slowly settling in here, but it will be a while before we have blossoms. It is such a treat to see yours. The photos made me smile with their beauty. It must be breath-taking to actually walk among all those trees. Happy spring!

What wonderful images! How marvelous to be there in this place! I dismiss Sakura with certain sadness, after having seen and read everything what here you leave us, because your post takes me to a condition of great satisfaction. But, as you, I wait again for Sakura, because I an sure that you will return to bring him to this corner of the Web. Thank you very much, Yoko.

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my blog, and my world! I’m a Japanese, born and raised in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city, and now living in Nara, the cradle of Japanese culture. I'm happy to share things and places I love with you and exchange ideas and thoughts. Thank you for stopping by and taking time.

Hakuba Village, Nagano

Oide Suspension Bridge

Rainbows on earth

Lilies at Maishima Island

Winter pond reflection

Saho River, Nara

the sea of Kobe westward

Danny's Christmas tree

Outward from the Home Planet

The Earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creation of God and the love of God.
- James Irwin -

The Blue Marble via Wikimedia

from my son's wedding album

The Little Church

If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely.
Small beginnings, greater ends.
Heartfelt work grows purely.

If you want to live life free,
Take your time, go slowly.
Do few things, but do them well.
Simple joys are holy.

Isui-en Garden

About Me

I am a Japanese, non-native speaker of English, who likes to think about things and express them in English. I named my handle name "Stardust." I'm consisted of particles, like a stardust, drifting in space, hoping to shine with her spirit burning bright someday. Still, such particles feel and think on this planet -- what a mystery, what a wonder, what a blessing!
My icon lotus flower symbolizes "spiritual growth from the muddy darkness to the light of the sun".